Björn Yttling had this to say about "Wrapped Around the Axle" in a press release: "I got the idea for 'Wrapped Around the Axle' when two friends of mine were having problems in their relationship. I knew them both for many years, so it was very emotional for me too. I think both of them wanted it to work, but the more they tried they realized they were being dragged deeper and deeper into something ever darker. It made me think that sometimes an honorable walkover is the only alternative; or to quote the Swedish author Klas Östergren: 'I'm leaving the table, I'm out of the game.'

"'Wrapped Around the Axle' is a metaphor for when your sleeve is being caught up in a spinning shaft, and you realize the only way you're going to get out of this situation is to lose the shirt. Sometimes the lyrics are the most important part of a song. I think this is the case with 'Wrapped Around the Axle.' But if I have to say something about the music, it's based around '70s inspired riff, with a Simon and Garfunkel-esque melody accompanied by a Jack White-ish beat."

Darker Days is the follow-up to 2016's Breakin' Point. A previous press release described the album as such: "The title was the starting point and became the central theme of the album, with each member bringing their interpretation into the studio and playing on each other's songs. Each member's take on darkness is distinctive, Peter tackling what's happening in the world right now, Björn delving into relationship issues, and John, the most existential, exploring the shadows of our own psyche."